6 May 2011

Aspiring solicitors raise over £2,000 for children’s charity

Pic shows (left to right): Pictured are Terian Watson, Garry Sturrock (President of the DLP charity ball committee), Alison Rennie (CHAS Fundraiser), Rebecca Black and Karen Gatherum

Postgraduate law students from the University of Dundee have raised more than £2,000 for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).

As well as completing their first steps towards professional qualification, the Diploma in Legal Practice students undertook a wide variety of fundraising activities in aid of CHAS, their chosen charity of the year. A charity Zumba class and sponsored leg waxing took place, and a pub quiz, bake sale and raffles were held. The sale of merchandise also raised money and the efforts culminated in a charity ball last month.

CHAS provides the only hospice services in Scotland dedicated to children and young people, operating Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch, as well as a home care service called CHAS at Home. The services, which cost over £6 million each year to run, are free to families who need them and are largely funded through the generosity of supporters.

Diploma students Terian Watson, Garry Sturrock, Rebecca Black and Karen Gatherum met with CHAS Fundraiser Alison Rennie at Rachel House to hand over the cheque for £2,000.

Director of the Diploma in Legal Practice programme Mrs Betty Bott praised all involved in the fundraising efforts, saying, 'The Diplomates have shown a deep understanding and recognition that an essential element of their professional qualification is an interest in and understanding of people less fortunate than themselves.

'The students decided that one of the best ways of demonstrating their commitment to improving the lives of such individuals was by raising money throughout the year for a worthy cause.'

Garry Sturrock, president of the student committee who organised the fundraising, said, 'The committee would like to thank everyone who has donated so generously and helped us to raise a fantastic sum for CHAS as well as raising the profile and awareness of the charity itself.

'CHAS was chosen by the committee of students as it is a local cause which we were all touched by and admire. Fundraising for CHAS has given us an opportunity to engage in extra-curricular activities to support our local community and show our awareness of corporate-social responsibility, an important element of professional life in legal practice.

'We know that the money will be put to good use in allowing CHAS to provide a much needed, high-quality service to children with life-shortening conditions and their families.'

Alison Rennie praised the DLP students on behalf of CHAS, saying, 'We’d like to thank everyone involved in raising this fantastic amount for CHAS. The money will help with specialist care and support for families all over Scotland who are caring for a child or young person with a life-shortening condition.'

Notes to Editors

For further information or more photographs, please contact Garry Sturrock on 07842 150611 or email gjsturrock@dundee.ac.uk

For further information about CHAS contact: Gemma Smith, Press Officer 0131 444 4907 gemmasmith@chas.org.uk / Anna Jackson, PR Manager 0131 444 4913 annajackson@chas.org.uk.

Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) is a charity that provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

CHAS runs two children’s hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch. The hospices support the whole family by offering short planned breaks, emergency support, end of life care and a range of bereavement services.

CHAS also provides a home care service, called CHAS at Home, staffed from both hospices and with a dedicated team in the North of Scotland. The service offers care to families in their own homes when they need it most.

CHAS supports over 250 families, as well as a significant number of families who receive bereavement support. The services are funded mainly through the generosity of the many supporters who help raise over £6 million needed each year to provide these vital hospice services.

Visit CHAS at www.chas.org.uk

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277